Health Benefits of Getting a Physical Therapy Massage

Whether you’re working at a desk all day or carrying around children, life can take its toll on your muscles, joints and tendons, for some people, these sensations can become chronic. The good news is that getting an appropriate massage can improve your health and well-being benefits if you suffer from muscle knots or contractures.

A common misconception about massage is that it's only available through high-end spas and health clubs. While today massage is widely available and viewed as an essential tool in promoting mental and physical health. From helping relieve pain to increasing your range of motion, in this blog post, we summarize the benefits of getting a regular physical therapist massage along with the right ways to incorporate it into your wellness routine. Get ready to learn everything you ever wanted to know about getting a physical therapy massage.

1. Improve Circulation

Physical therapy massages can help improve blood circulation and alleviate sore muscles. As your tissues are manipulated, this treatment helps to relax the body, stimulate the lymphatic system, reduce inflammation and increase joint range of motion, which means new oxygen-rich blood can more easily flow in. Thus it can help to reduce muscle tension, stiffness and fatigue, allowing for better performance in physical activities. If you are experiencing any muscle pain, spasms or strains, consider seeking out physical therapy to see if massage therapy can help improve your condition.

2. Improve Immune System

PT massage has also been proven to have a positive impact on the immune cells which produce antibodies that protect us from infection and disease. During massage, the lymphatic system of your body is prompted to function properly, allowing it to carry away toxins that can build up and lead to various illnesses. So naturally, you might need less time to recover from an injury or illness.

3. Lessen Scar Tissue

When you’re injured, the body will form tough scar tissue around the injuries, which can cause chronic pain, limited flexibility and a feeling of tightness, itching or swelling.

Studies suggest that physical therapy massage is an effective way to reduce scar tissue, as it helps break down the fibrous tissues and increase flexibility. In addition, it stimulates lymphatic circulation and drainage, which helps reduce inflammation and promote healing. It’s encouraged for people who recover from surgery to get regular deep tissue PT massage to increase joint’s range of motion.

4. Improve posture

As we tend to work at computer and sit for prolonged periods, more and more people seek medical help for muscle strain around shoulder, neck and back that are the result of having poor posture. Physical therapy massages can do a lot of good for your posture. By working on specific muscle groups of the body, physical therapists can bring your body into its natural place of alignment, thus helping you relieve muscle tension and improving your overall well-being.

5. Improve flexibility and range of motion

The degree of flexibility you have will depend on the smoothness of your soft tissues. If these areas are stiff or inflamed, you may have difficulty bending, reaching, throwing balls, or obtaining a full range of motion. The good news is that physical massage therapy can be helpful to boost flexibility by stretching and soothing muscle fibres.

6. Reduce arthritis symptoms

PT massage also works to reduce arthritis related pain and inflammation, including joint stiffness, limited range of motion, sleep issues and so on. Researchers have found that moderate pressure can be particularly beneficial in reducing arthritis pain, while improving joint stiffness and range of motion. Furthermore, it has been shown to improve sleep patterns, which is a key factor in managing the condition. PT massage is a viable option for anyone looking to manage their arthritis symptoms.

7. Boost mood

The benefits of PT massage extend far beyond physical wellbeing. PT massage has been found to have a positive effect on mental health. Moderate pressure massage can boost mood by increasing levels of hormones like endorphins and serotonin in the body, which are linked to feeling positive and relaxed.